San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1887-03-24
From South Carolina.
NrwnuRY, s. O., March 0, 1887.

Laurens, s. @. How the poor old men love
to talk to me about by.gone history and
quaint old times, when they find out am
writing for the press. One can tell of the
generous wofford. another Of the Nullifica-
tion, another of Calhoun, and so on till the
brain of writer would be confused. This
town I,aurens) was founded by Henry Lau-
rens, April, IVA. This place WAS passed
by Revolutionary soldiers on their way from
the battle of the Cow-pens. II is an old
town, though it stood sixty years without
an inch of progress, and has obtained its
present place among towns Of note in the
last SIX years, since the Augusta& Il Knoxville
railroad came by it. Ipasscd by the home
of my mother, grandfather and great-grapd
father The fifth generation now lives al
the same old homestead. How is that for
au old house9
/ went from here to Spartanburg, the
sect of Worford College, and the old home
of our learned Bishop Duncan. Here rs
elsewhere, when began to pencil my notes
of inquiry the older heads gathered around
me to give information of ye olden times.
When told them was penci.ing notes for
QUE of the finest descriptive and topograph
ical writer's in our State positively no fiat
terry. Mr.. Editor), they at once issued invi'
tations to you to visit this place. Glenn
Springs and other noted summer resorts NJ
here. So just take some of your annual in
come and come up here during the long
Texas summer and breathe this immortal
fresh and pure ar, and we will write up this
whole country. The monument and statute
of General Daniel Morgan stands in the
midst of this little city. 1t is made of gran
ate and not more than is feet high. 1t
faces toward the battle ground of the Cow
pens. This celebrated historical place is
only seven miles from here. Nothing but
the name to give it interest. But the old
spot will be cherished by Americans while
time rolls on In this State as well rs in
Georgia, ignorance prevails 10 an alarming
extent among the colored and poor white
people. You would be surprised. l tell
you, Mr.. Editor, will never hurl another
bolt against an extensive and complete pub
lie school system. 1t is the only safeguard
of states and nations, 1t is the only hope
to educate the masses. Let me tell you,
sir, to-day Georgia and South Carolina
with all their boasted church schools and
colleges, are thirty years behind young
Texas in the matter of thorough educa-
tioual system. Each of them have about
three months school a year. Georgia pays
her teachers fiom twenty to forty dollars,
and South Carolina from fifteen to thirty
This matter of pny alone would be sufficient
to kill any system of schools. Everything
is behind her don't believe this country
has moved forward fifty inches III fifty
years.
One more matter I wanted to mention,
and that is the non exemption of home
steads. A man, when he gets goods on
time, can do SO by actually deciding away
his land in whole or in part. The deed is
given, and signed, sealed, stamped and
md is no more his land until the
debt is paid. This law is terrible. The
homestead must be exempted. Tell Col.
Haldy to carefully revise his argument on
that subject, aud tell Hon, Geo. Il. Nc
Gehee to hold fast to the conviction heard
him express when he said he would resign
before he would vote to do away with the
exemption law of Texas. On the whole,
Mr.. Editor, after taking this second trip over
the South, shall be perfectly satisfied to
make Texas my future home, for while at
least. j. A. THOMAS.
1.-THE suggestion of our correspondent to
10 spend some of the surplus wealth which
editors nre so prone to accumulate
N a visit to the Carolinas, strikes us very
,greeably. We are sure we would feel
mite at home among "the natives" there,
preponderance of the population of the
ection of Indiana where we were ''1orn
md raised" being Caroiinians or their de-
cendants. Not only so, but our ancestors
esided for about an hundred years in
North Carolina, and the estate on which
ur great-grandfather, Isaac Julian, first
ettled there, shortly after Braddock's de-
eat, Che having emgrated from Virginia
IN account of Indian depre1ations),
emained at our latest alvices in the
possession OF one of his descendants. Far
hermore. we have always felt high de-
,ree of patriotic pride in the honorable
ecord of Marian and his men, General
sumter, Sergeant Jasper, and the other
,atriOtic heroes, including the rank aud
lie of the section under notice. .-EDl